Food Network loses Foodfight for .food top level domain name

Scripps wanted to claim universal rights to the term “food” on the web. The company behind the Food Network and Food.com, Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc., has lost an objection against a rival applicant for the top level domain name .food. In the objection against Dot Food, LLC, Scripps tried to argue that it basically owns the word “food”, and that consumers visiting a second level domain name under .food would assume that it was associated with the company. Respondent’s intended use of the top level domain is to resell second string domains in the open marketplace and become an authoritative online resource for content related to cuisine and the culinary arts. In addition to the fact that such activity would irreparably damage the famous FOOD brand, there is a significant likelihood that such activity would unlawfully trade upon the fame and goodwill of Objector’s mar...